KAHUIKA.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXX, Issue 2, 4 July 1913, Page 3

KAHUIKA.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. The weather at present is all "that could be desired, but most of the Agricultural land here is too wet to plough yet, although some of the farmers are preparing new ground for potatoes. What is mistakingly called the "battle of the sites" is raging in Papatowai and wrongly-named Tahakopa districts at the present time. There is actually no question of sites involved in the squabble; the whole question is whether the iron horse is to be turned about at Papatowai and backed to Rimu (not Tahakopa—that name as a living factor in the district became defunct when, owing to empty cradles and land monopoly, the school and post and telephone offices were shifted to Rimu), and it is the Rimuites that are making the disturbance. The railway authorities consider they can do their work better by having the turntable, cleaniug sheds and chief buildings at Papatowai and working on the same lines as they did from Owaka to Catlins River for years, without any protest being made there. It was known throughout the districts interested twelve months ago that the terminal buildings were to be at Papatowai; in fact, it was rumoured that the line was to go no further. Requests were then made to push on the work up the valley, but not a-whisper was heard about turntables or cleaning sheds; station-master's house, etc., although preparations were being made for these at Papatowai. This agitation, so far as I can learn, commenced at or near the time the contract was let for the buildings. If the Railway Department is allowed to run its own business in its own way (and the Department has had experts on the job), Papatowai station will be officially opened inside twelve months; but, on the other hand, if Tom, Dick or Harry, who may have political or other pull, are allowed to run the business, there is not the slightest hope of the line bejing opened to Stoddart's inside of two years. There are not 100 navvies on the whole line at present, but if the Rimu settlers used their energies and influence in demanding more men and a speedier finish, instead of the silly squabble as to who is to water the iron horse and lodge the station-master, they would cause less amusement to the general public and serve the interests of the district better. You can sum the whole affair up as a storm in a teapot (or tin-can), and we hope the Government will uphold their own experts in this matter, and not allow any more political pull or spoon-feeding to interfere with the profitable working of this line. It will only be a matter of a short time when the thirty miles between the two ends will be linked up, and Papatowai and Rimu (or Tahakopa) will become wayside halting places where travellers can buy a fish or obtain a drink of butter-milk on their way to the Bluff in search of oysters and stout.